Assorting and delivering mechanism.



D. W. COLBY.

ASSORTING AND DELIVERING MECHANISM. APPLICATION FILED 001.31. 1910.

1,139,1m Patented May11,1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l- W/T/VESSES Z M a P1 .11.

D. W. COLBY.

ASSORTING AND DELIVERING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 31. 1910.

Patented May 11, 1915.

2 SHEETSSHEET Z.

W/T/VESSES M a 4 24% :1 MM

THE NORRIS PETERS 50 PHON-LITHO. WASHINGTON. D. C.

llhllTED FATENT QFFlQEQ DANIEL COLBY, 0F BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNORTO UNITED SHOE MACHINERY COIVIPANY, OF PATERSON, NEW JERSEY, ACORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

ASSOBTING AND DELIVERING MECHANISM.

Application filed Gcto'ner 31, 1910.

T0 0Z5 whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DANIEL W. COLBY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts,have invented certain Improvements in Asserting and DeliveringlvlSCllfll'llSlllS, of which the following description, in connectionwith the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like referencecharacters on the drawings indicating l1ke parts in the several figures.

This invention relates to mechanism for asserting and deliveringfasteners or similar articles and more especially to mechanism forseparating lacing hooks from the mass contained in a hopper andsupplying them to the raceway of a hook setting machine.

In order to avoid attrition of the hooks, which would result in damagingtheir finish, it is important that the mechanism should operate withoutcausing undue agitation of the mass of hooks, and it is also importantthat the separating device should have large capacity in order that theraceway may be supplied with hooks even when the machine is operatedcontinuously at high speed. It is, further, desirable that theseparating device should be of such construction as to handle hooksvarying from each other in dimensions within the limits encountered indealing with hooks furnished in commercial quantities.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a novelassorting and delivering mechanism which shall possess these qualitiesand embody certain other advantages in construction and operation whichwill be more particularly pointed out here inafter.

Broadly considered my improved assorting and delivering mechanismcomprises a hopper in which the fasteners are received in bulk and aflat separating device movable into and out of the pile of fasteners inthe hopper, the separating device being so constructed and arranged asto receive those fasteners which are properly positioned, convey them tothe raceway and deliver them thereto through its lower surface. Asherein shown the hopper may be cylindrical in form and the separatingdevice may comprise a fiat annular plate or ring concentri-Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May Ill, 1915.

Serial No. 589,982.

cally arranged for turning movement within the hopper in a pathextending adjacent to the bottom of the hopper at the point to which thehooks naturally gravitate and having a plurality of pockets adapted toreceive hooks from the upper surface and deliver them to the racewaythrough the bottom of the ring.

An important feature of the invention consists in the provision of meanson the separator, such as projecting blades, cooperating with the hookreceiving pockets for engaging hooks in the mass and guiding them to andinto the pockets. The provision of such blades has been found toincrease the capacity of the separator without appreciably agitating themass of hooks. By extending the blades into the pockets the hooks may bemaintained in a definite position during their conveying to the racewayand delivered to the latter in the desired position.

Another feature of the present invention relates to the manner ofeffecting a con nection between the raceway and hopper for insuring thedelivery of hooks by the separator to the raceway and providing for thedisposition of superfluous hooks when the raceway is full.

An arrangement which gives satisfactory results consists in extendingthe upper end of the raceway for a short distance flush with the bottomsurface of the separator and tangentially with respect to the path ofthe hooks so that the hook guiding blades of the separator shallregister momentarily with the end of the raceway and thereby affordopportunity for the hooks to turn and settle securely on the racewaybefore they are entirely released from the pockets. In order to disposeof superfluous hooks after the raceway is full the point of connectionbetween the raceway and the separator may be elevated above the hopperbottom so that superfluous hooks released at that point may return tothe mass in the hopper.

In this connection a further feature of the invention consists inarranging the bottom ofthe hopper to lie at a less inclination than theplane of the separator thereby securing the required space for thesuperfluous hooks.

Still another feature of the present inrenti n lies in the constructionand arrangement of the mechanismfor driving the separator abovedescribed. In starting a machine when the raceway is empty or if for anyreason the supply of hooks upon the raceway runs low, it is advantageousto set the separator in operation while the machine remains at rest, inorder that the raceway may be filled with hooks. This expedient ispermitted, in a preferred embodiment of my invention, by driving theseparator from a continuously rotating member of the machine, such asthe loose member of the clutch. Preferably the separator is belt driven,and in this case, the effective connection between the former and itscontinuously rotating driving member may be interrupted by an adjustablymounted idler, which, also serves to adjust the tension of the belt.

It is desirable to allow for obstruction and stoppage of the separatoroccasioned by a hook becoming wedged at the throat of the raceway or anyother cause, and with this in view, it is a further object of thepresent invention to provide a frictional driving connection between theseparator and its immediate actuating member. With such a connection itis possible to move the separator by hand independently of its drivingmechanism in order to dislodge obstructing hooks.

The features and advantages above enumerated and others incident to theinvention will be best understood and appreciated in connection with thefollowing description of a preferred embodiment thereof,selected forpurposes of illustration and shown in the accompanying drawings, inwhich,

Figure 1 is a view in elevation showing the hopper partly in section;Fig. 2 is a plan view of the hopper with the cover removed; Fig. 3 is aview in perspective showing the connection between the raceway and thehopper; Fig. 4 is a fragmentary new of the separator.

In the accompanying drawings the assorting and delivering mechanism isillustrated as applied'to the hook setting machine disclosed inco-pending application Serial No. 513,078, filed August 16, 1909, ofwhich the present application is in part a continuation. While theassorting mechanism is well adapted for use in connection with thisparticular machine it will be evident that it is capable of generalapplication.

The assorting and delivering mechanism maybe mounted upon the frame 2 ofthe hook setting machine in any desired manner. As is shown in Fig. 1,the hopper is secured to the upper end of a bracket 102 attached to oneside of the frame 2 and an auxiliary bracket 105 extending from thebracket 102 furnishes bearing for the shaft F 7 which actuates theseparator as will be hereinafter explained. The hopper comprises abottom portion 12, a cylindrical casing 14 and a removable cover 16. Thebottom of the hopper is inclined downwardly toward the front of themachine in order that the hooks contained therein may naturallygravitate toward that side. The bottom portion is provided with anannular, shoulder or ledge 17 adjacent to the wall of the casing 14:which shoulder furnishes bearings for theseparatorlS. The plane of thisshoulder is arranged at an inclination to the bottom of the hopper sothat the separator will enter the pile of hooks at the lower side of thehopper but in other places will be elevated somewhat from the hopperbottom.

The separator itself comprises a flat anplurality of hook-shapedrecesses 40 opening into the interior of the ring. In moving theseparator through the mass of hooks those hooks which are properlypositioned will fall into the recesses and thus be carried out from themass and may be conveyed to the raceway. The upper end of the raceway 42connects with the hopper at a point near its higher side and extendsinto the hopper for a short distance flush with the surface of theannular shoulder upon which the separator ring 18 rotates andtangentially with respect thereto. As the ring 18 carries successivehooks to this portion of the raceway they are allowed to drop from thebottom of the ring and settle themselves upon the raceway. This takesplace before the hooks are released entirely from the pockets, thusminimizing the opportunity for them to become improperly located in thetransfer.

Preferably the separator ring is provided with projecting blades 38arranged to engage the throats of hooks properly positioned in the massand guide them into the pockets 40. An oppositely disposed guide piece39 is provided on the other side of each recess 40 to prevent the hooksfrom be ing carried over the recesses instead of into them. Each blade38 is extended down into the recess 40 and serves to hold ahook indefinite position while it is being conveyed to the raceway. The bladesare arranged in the ring 18 at the same radial distance from the centeras the upper end of the'raceway so that they shall momentarily registertherewith and allow each hook to engage the raceway before it isentirely released from the recess.

The separator is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig;2 and in pass ing through the mass of hooksa blade 38 will engage withthe throat of such hooks as happen to be in the position of the hook H.

As the ring continues to rotate the hooks will slide rearwardly alongthe edge of the blade 38, on account of the retarding effect of thecontiguous mass and will be turned over and guided downwardly into thepoohets of the ring 18 by the guide piece 39. While contained in arecess each hook will rest upon the surface of the shoulder 17 be ingheld in position on its side by the blade 38 and pushed along byengagement with the rear wall of the recess. When a hook has beenconveyed to position above the end of the raceway 42 it settles itselfupon the straight end thereof being allowed to turn through 90 andengage the raceway by its throat. This turning movement is permitted bya slot 43 in the shoulder 17 near the raceway which slot receives theflange of the hook.

After extending flush with the surface of the shoulder 17 for a shortdistance the raceway extends downwardly through an aperture in thebottom of the hopper. For convenience in construction, the aperture ismade larger than necessary to permit the passage of a hook and a throatplate 58 is secured to the bottom of the hopper and serves to preventthe escape of any hooks except those properly located upon the raceway.On leaving the hopper, the raceway is extended to the settinginstrumentalities in the usual manner and provided with the usual giiardrail 44.

It will be noticed that the point of con nection between the separatorand the raceway is considerably elevated above the bottom of the hopper.This construction permits superfluous hooks, dropped from the recessesof the separator 18 after the raceway is full, to find their way back tothe mass contained in the hopper. Such hooks instead of settling on theraceway will be carried over the backs of those already located thereon,falling freely when the steeper part of the raceway is reached.

The separator 18 is rotated at a uniform speed from any continuouslyactuated part of the setting machine, such as the loose member of thedriving clutch. In the machine of said co-pending application the mainshaft 4 is suitably journaled in the frame 2 and provided with a loosedriving pulley 5 which may be clutched to the shaft by shifting afriction member 6. Preferably the separator may be driven from the loosemember 5. To this end the separator is connected to an angular arm 20frictionally mounted on the upper end of a shaft 24 journaled in thebottom portion of the hop per. The shaft 24 at its lower end is providedwith a worm wheel 28 meshing with a worm 30 on the shaft 7 This shaft isournaled in the auxiliary bracket 105 above mentioned and is provided atits rear end with a grooved pulley 8. The pulley 8 is driven by a belt10 from the loose member 5 of the clutch on the main shaft 4. When it isdesired to operate the separator the belt 10 is placed under sufficienttension by a belt tightener comprising an idle pulley 60 mounted on apivoted arm 62 which may be moved into desired position and locked by aspring pressed detent 64 cooperating with a toothed rack 66. Thisconstruction permits the continuous operation of the separator when thehook setting machine as a whole is at rest so that the raceway may berapidly supplied with hooks independently of the operation of themachine.

In order to allow for obstruction and stoppage of the separator in casea hook should become wedged between it and the raceway it is desirableto provide a frictional connection between the separator and itsactuating mechanism. To this end the arm 20 is provided with a hub 22which is frictionally held upon the shaft 24 between the collar 25 and aspring washer 26. An upwardly extending arm 32 is attached to the arm 20and is provided with a square spindle 34 which extends through the coverof the hopper where it may be provided with a small hand wheel 36. Inthis way it is possible to move the separator ring independently of itsactuating mechanism to dislodge an obstructing hook.

In order to permit the discharge of the contents of the hopper there isprovided a trap door 46 forming part of the bottom of the hopperadjacent to its lower side. The door 46 is normally held closed by apivoted latch 50. The end of the latch 50 is beveled on its under sideso that the door 46 may displace the latch against the action of aspring 52 in being closed. Downwardly projecting Wings 48 are formed onthe bottom of the hopper at either side of the trap door and constitutethe walls of a chute, the bottom of which is formed by a trap door whenopened. One wing 48 acts as a stop to limit the inward movement of thelatch 50. The contents of the hopper may be quickly and completelydischarged into any convenient receptacle by turning the latch 50 topermit the trap door to fall and form a chute, the door in its lower oropen position resting against the bracket 102.

The point in assorting mechanism of this character at which obstructionis likely to occur is where the racewav passes out of the hopper and inorder to make this point readily accessible there is provided a gate 54normally closed by a spiral spring but capable of being swung outwardlyto permit inspection of the end of the raceway. The gate 54 is providedwith an adjustable stop 56 whereby its normal position may be accuratelydetermined and varied in accordance with hooks of different sizes.

The operation of assorting and delivering mechanism will be readilyunderstood from the foregoing description. It will be noticed that theseparator is capable of handling 'hooks within a wide range oflengths'as their barrels are allowed to extend indefinitely toward thecenter of the hopper from the recesses 40. Furthermore, the distancebetween the rear edge of a blade 38 and the rear face of a recess L0 ismade greater than the width of the rear part of the throat of thelargest possible hook to be set so that access of a hook to the recessesis dependent only on the proper width of the throat of the hook.Notwithstanding the latitude of the separator in regard to the size ofthe hooks, it will be seen that each hook, when once engaged by theseparator, is constantly and precisely controlled in its position sothat there is no opportunity given for a hook to escape being deliveredto the raceway in the proper position.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a hopper witha separator, said separator comprising a ring having a beveled innersurface and a plurality of recesses extending through the ring from itsupper to its lower surfaces and opening into the interior of the ring.

2. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a hopper witha separator comprising a fiat ring arranged to rotate with a flat sideuppermost and being provided with a plurality of recesses extending fromits upper side to its lower side and having the general outline of thefasteners to be handled, and a raceway for receiving fastenerssuccessively as they pass out of the ring through said recesses.

3. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a hopper witha separator comprising a ring provided with a plurality of recesses,each recess having a portion with substantially circular walls which atone point project inwardly and a narrow neck opening into the interiorof the ring, said recess being so proportioned as to contain the entirehook body.

at. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a hopper anda raceway extending therefrom, together with a separator located withinsaid hopper and coinprising a rotatable ring provided with re' cessesfor receiving hooks from a mass, each recess having an opening throughone edge of the ring and a larger inclosed portion within the ring.

5. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a hopper anda raceway extending therefrom, togetherwith a separator located'withinsaid hopper and compris ing a flat ring having an unobstructed inneredge, the ring being constructed and arranged to receive fasteners atits upper surface and deliver them to the raceway through its lowersurface.

6. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a hopper anda separator, said separator comprising a flat ring. provided withrecesses, and blades extending above the upper surface of the ring toengage fasteners and into the recesses for maintaining the fasteners inthe desired position within the recesses.

7. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a hopper anda separator, said separator comprising a' ring provided with recessesopening through its lower surface, and a plate within each recess to en:

gage the throat of a hook and maintain the same in the desired position.

8. In a machine of the class described, the

cessed ring, and being provided with means i for engaging a hook abovethe upper surface of the ring and delivering a hook through its lowersurface'with the barrel of the hook coinciding in direction with aradial line of the hopper.

10. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a hopperwith a separator, said separator comprising a recessed ring, a hookengaging blade located on one side of each recess, and a hook guidingplate having a concave guiding surface located upon the opposite side ofeach recess.

11. In a machine of the class described, the combination of acylindrical hopper, a separator arranged to carry fasteners along acurved path, and a raceway, said raceway at its upper end having a railwhich engages directly with the bottom of the separator, extendingtangentially with respect to the path of the fasteners in the separatorfor a short distance and then downwardly below the plane of the bottomof the separator.

12. In a machine ofjthe class described, the combination of a hopper, aring shaped separator arranged to carry fasteners along a curved pathand a raceway, said raceway at its upper end having a rail extendingtan- Y gentially with respect to the path of the fas teners in theseparator ring for a short distance and then downwardly from a point ofengagementwith the separator to below the plane of the lower surface ofsaid separator.

13. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a hopper, aring shaped separator having picker blades and being movable to carryfasteners along a curved path, and a raceway, said raceway at its upperend extending tangentially with respect to the path of the fasteners inthe separator ring and being located at the same radial distance fromthe center of the ring as said picker blades.

1%. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a hopper forlacing hooks, a separator ring rotatable therein above the hopperbottom, and a raceway having a single rail disposed with its edge towardthe bottom of said ring arranged between the bottom of the hopper andthe bottom of the ring.

15. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a hoppercomprising a cylindrical casing with an upwardly extending axis and abottom, together with a raceway, and a separator ring rotatable in aplane perpendicular to the axis of said casing, said separator at apoint adjacent to said raceway being arranged to carry fasteners along apath elevated above the bottom of said hopper.

16. A. machine of the class described having, in combination, a hopperfor containing fasteners, and a movable separator therein having pocketsand means for guiding fasteners into said pockets and axially turningthem while they are being guided intothe pockets.

17. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a hopperfor lacing hooks, a movable separator therein having pockets and meansmounted thereon for engaging hooks in one position, guiding them intosaid pockets and axially turning them into another position.

18. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a hopperfor containing fasteners, a raceway, and a movable separator constructedand arranged to convey fasteners in a predetermined axial position tosaid raceway, the separator and raceway being so relatively disposed asto permit axial turning of a fastener to engage the raceway before it isreleased by the separator.

19. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a hopperfor lacing hooks, a raceway, and a movable separator having pocketsshaped to receive a hook lying on its side, said separator and racewaybeing so relatively disposed as to permit turning of a hook to engagethe raceway before it is released by the separator.

20. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a hopper anda separator, together with a clutch having a continuously rotatablemember and a casing, belt connection between the continuously rotatablemember of the clutch and the separator, and means moimted on the clutchcasing for ad justing the tension of the belt.

21. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a hopper anda rotatable shaft, together with a separator, and means for frictionallyconnecting said shaft and separator, said means comprising a collar andfriction disk on the shaft, an intermediate sleeve, and an arm carriedthereby.

22. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a hopperwith a rotatable shaft, a sleeve frictionally mounted on said shaft, aseparator ring rotatable within the hopper, and a connection betweensaid sleeve and ring comprising an angular arm.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

DANIEL W. COLBY.

Witnesses:

HERBERT W. KENWAY, JAMns It. HODDER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

